Flexible engine support



Sept. 9, 1930. E. H. BELD EN FLEXIBLE ENGINE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 5. 1922 IIIIIIIIIA m RM w m E m .m. WH m 6 d M a w W W I w n 1 M Z Z x Patented Sept. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD H. BELDEN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLYS-OITERLAND COM- PANY, F TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO FLEXIBLE ENGINE SUPPORT Application filed September 5, 1922. Serial No. 586,135.

This invention relates to automotive vehicles, and more particularly to the manner of supporting or connecting the driving ntor to the vehicle frame.

3' An object of the invention is to provide a connection between the vehicle frame and the motor which, while effective to support the motor with the necessary firmness or rigidity, is at the same time sufficiently yield- 10 ing to absorb motor vibrations and thus materially reduce the amount of vibration transmitted to the vehicle frame and body. Other objects will appear from the detailed description to follow:

Referring to the drawing forming a part hereof:

Figure I is a top plan view of a portion of an automotive vehicle frame and motor supported thereby;

Fig. II is a detail sectional view drawn to a larger scale, taken on the line II-II of Figs. I and III;

Fig. III is a side view of the support shown in Fig. II with the engine foot removed;

Fig. IV is a cross sectional view taken on the line IV IV of Fig. I; and

Fig. V is a perspective view of the attaching bracket shown in Fig; IV.

The same reference numbers refer to the similar parts throughout the views.

Two channels 5, connected by cross braces I 6 and 7 comprising the forward end of the vehicle frame, support the driving motor or engine 8 b a connection at each of its four corners. s is common in such frame structures the side frame channels are of varying" depth, being tapered toward the front end of the frame, thus the channel section ap caring in Fi IV is narrower than that in ig. I Each of the four corners of the engine is provided with a supporting foot the two forward corners each having a foot 10 while the two rear corners each have a foot 11.

Referrin first to Figs. II and III which illustrate t e structure for connecting the rear corners of the engine to the frame, a bracket 12, riveted at 13 to the inner face of the channel, is shown secured by a pair of bolts 14 to two disks 15. The two bolts 14 are positioned diametrically opposite each other and each has one or more spacing washers 16 interposed between the bracket 12 and the adjacent fabric disk. A thin spacing washer, not shown, is also preferably employed between the two disks at these bolts. A plate or bracket 19 is secured to the two fabric disks by bolts 20 also positioned at diametrically opposite points, but spaced 90 degrees from the bolts 14. These bolts carry spacing washers21, one of which separates the two disks while the other separates the plate 19 from the adjacent disk. The disks 15 may be constructed of a variety of materials, the essential feature being that the disks in addition to having the necessary strength shall have the desired yielding, resilient and shock absorbing properties. An effective material for this purpose has been found to be a rubberized fabric; each disk being built up of a number of layers with the warp and woof of each layer angularly displaced with reference to the warp and woof of the other layers. While two disks are shown in the drawing it will be evident that a greater number may be employed if desired or even a single disk may be used. The plate 19 has a projection 23 on the side opposite the fiber disks which provides a seat for the foot 11 of the engine and a bolt 24 serves to firmly secure those two members together.

The connecting structure for the two front corners of the engine differs from that de scribed principally in the shape of the bracket and plate and in the fact that'the plate. is attached to the pair of disks at the same side as the bracket. The bracket 26 which is riveted to the channels 5 at 27 is shown in Figs. IV and V. This bracket engages the channel at that point, mentioned above, where the channel tapers in depth and the bracket is so bent that the projecting portion 28 is not parallel with the top edge but conforms to the slope of the lower flange of'the channel. The prongs 30 and 31 are accordingly made of unequal length the former being longer than the latter. The ends of these prongs 30 and 31 are secured by bolts 32 at diametrically opposite points, to a pair of disks 33 similar in every way to the disks 15. A plate 35 is securedto the same disks by bolts 36 7 also arranged at diametrically opposite points and spaced 90 degrees from the bolts 32. Spacing washers 37 are also provided between the disks and between the bracket and prongs and the adjacent disk. The upper end of the bracket 35 constitutes a bolt 38 by which the bracket is secured to the engine foot 10. m It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 1 II that the upper bolt 20 and nut thereon project into an alining aperture in the bracket 12. This arrangement permits the bracket being brought closer to the disks than it otherwise would and, what is more important, provides a safety support for the engine should the disks '15 for any reason fail. In the case of the forward support, the part 28 of the bracket 26 projects inward beneath the engine foot 10 a sufficient distance to provide a safety support for that end of the engine should the disks 33 fail.

An engine mounting such as described while providing the necessary rigidity is at 5 the same time sufliciently flexible and yielding to absorb vibrations which otherwise would be transmitted to the frame and body of the vehicle.

While I have shown and described in detail anparticular structural embodiment as illustrative of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby, since various changes might be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention covered by :35 the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is :v

In combination, a vehicle frame, an engine frame, a vertically extended bracket connected to one of the frames, a bifurcated bracket secured tothe other frame and cooperatively disposed parallel to and adjoining the first mentioned bracket on either side, -15 and a nonlnetallic vibration dampening member secured to each of the brackets and interconnecting the same.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

t3 EDWARD H. BELDEN. 

